A woman was killed and six men left with injuries similar to those sustained by "landmine" victims while inspecting work on a water pipe in Auckland's Onehunga yesterday.

The explosion at a construction site in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga has killed one person, a 48-year old woman, and left six others injured.

National lacks the courage to tackle Australian banks which have saddled NZ with billions in debt, says Greens co-leader Russel Norman.

The Highlanders launched their new rugby jersey tonight as they ran out to face the Force in their last ever game at Carisbrook.

A group of artists found themselves unable to lob a pillow from a catapult in a symbolic protest against the Urewera police raids today.